There are six long months to go until this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. No doubt the many local and regional car meets that naturally occur will fill some of the weekends in, but it would be nice if there could be a proper, full-scale event – one where highly tuned race behemoths can come to life – to punctuate our wait?
Well, turns out there is. The London Classic Car promises its own opportunities to watch motoring icons in action. There’s a central parade strip on which drivers can ‘open ‘er up’ to rapturous applause. And though the show may be in cold, drizzly February and not mid-summer, and may be set in a bleak urban environment rather than surrounded by some of the most invigorating scenery these isles have to offer. But it does have one considerable advantage –
It’s indoors.


The London Classic Car Show is hosted at the ExCel centre in the London Docklands, the same venue as is used by the London Boat Show. Of course, an indoor space capable of housing a 100′ Sunseeker Yacht is quite something, and the south halls are a total of 600 metres long. That’s nearly two Nimitz-class aircraft carriers, and well enough for a reasonable drag-strip.
As well as enough incredible cars from the civilian and motorsport worlds to shake several good-sized sticks at, there’ll be a few interesting bits on the side. Not least is that the world-famous Beaulieu Autojumble will be there… and I’ll be struggling not to walk away with armfuls of vintage car brochures I have no business buying.
If you live anywhere near London – or at least this side of the Atlantic, I strongly advise you take a look. You can even leave your wellies at home.
(Images are property of London Classic Car Show and ExCel centre)